The nurses’ union yesterday ordered industrial action at the State mental hospital following complaints of “dangerous” staff shortages.

The three-pronged action, announced by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, followed a Times of Malta report from Wednesday on serious nurse shortages at Mount Carmel Hospital.

Nurses who spoke to this newspaper under the condition of anonymity described the situation as unbearable.

“Quite frankly it is unsafe for patients and medical staff alike. It’s only a matter of time until we hear of another unfortunate incident – which could have been avoided with more staff,” one nurse said.

The concerned nurse was one of a number to speak out after a depressed patient, meant to be under constant supervision, escaped from the hospital.

Tom Stewart, a 59-year-old Briton, was still missing yesterday after he climbed a tree and jumped over the hospital walls two weeks ago. He was the fourth patient to escape from the compound since April.

MUMN ordered its nurses not to gives worn testimony to boards of inquiry looking into recent events at the hospital

Nurses who contacted this newspaper expressed concerns that staff shortages meant mentally ill patients were not being provided with the level of care required.

The nurses’ greatest concern revolved around the provision of what is known as level-one supervision, which is ordered for those who doctors feel should be watched over at all times.

“How can we provide that level of care, when wards which used to be staffed by six nurses now only have one?” another nurse asked.

The healthcare professional was quick to add that the shortage was no fault of the management, but rather a lack of investment from the authorities.

Meanwhile, MUMN ordered its nurses not to give sworn testimony to boards of inquiry looking into recent events at the hospital. It also ordered nurses at Mount Carmel Hospital not to open doors for staff members who, until recently, had keys of their own.

This was an added distraction for already overworked nurses at the hospital.

Nurses were also instructed not to fill in any forms which were meant to be handled by other professionals but which were being passed on to them.

The union complained that too few nurses had been engaged at Mount Carmel in recent years and those who had stopped working there were not being replaced.

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Chris Fearne said earlier this week the number of nurses working in mental healthcare across the island had increased from 261 in 2013 to 306.

“The Health Department is endeavouring to continue strengthening the professional work force in the psychiatric service.

“Meanwhile the ministry is working on a dedicated plan for mental health,” the spokeswoman said.

The nurses, however, dispute this, as they insist the only reason more nurses were working in the sector was because several services had been shifted to Mater Dei Hospital, which duplicated resources needed.